Mary Beth talks with Ravens broadcaster Stan White about what Art Modell meant to the history of NFL and the Baltimore Community Download This File

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was among the players and coaches who visited Art Modell in the hospital Wednesday night, and he describes their last conversation. Download This File

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome played for Art Modell in Cleveland and worked in the front office in Baltimore. Download This File

Former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell has died. He was 87.

The team said Modell died of natural causes early today at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he had been admitted Wednesday.

Modell was among the most important figures in the NFL as owner of the Cleveland Browns, which became the Ravens after he took the team to Baltimore in 1996.

The Ravens won their lone Super Bowl in January 2001, less than a year after Modell sold a minority interest of the team to Steve Bisciotti. In April 2004. Bisciotti completed purchase of the franchise but left Modell a 1 percent share.

During his four decades as an NFL owner, Modell helped negotiate the league's lucrative contracts with television networks, served as president of the NFL from 1967 to 1969, and chaired the negotiations for the first the collective bargaining agreement with the players in 1968.

He also was the driving force behind the 1970 contract between the NFL and ABC to televise games on Monday night.

At one time one of Cleveland's biggest civic leaders, Modell became a pariah in Ohio after he moved the team.

"I have a great legacy, tarnished somewhat by the move," he said in 1999. "The politicians and the bureaucrats saw fit to cover their own rear ends by blaming it on me."

The move was also believed to be the main reason why Modell never made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was one of 15 finalists in 2001 and a semifinalist seven times between 2004 and 2011.

"I believe Art belongs in the Hall of Fame," former New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, now deceased, said in 2002. "I don't think I know a person who has done more for the league than Modell, especially through television."

Modell's Browns were among the best teams of the 1960s, led during his first few years as owner by legendary running back Jim Brown. Cleveland won the NFL championship in 1964 - Modell's only title with the Browns - and played in the title game in 1965, 1968 and 1969.

Modell said he lost millions of dollars operating the Browns in Cleveland and cited the state of Maryland's financial package, including construction of a $200 million stadium, as his reasons for going to Baltimore. The Ravens replaced the Baltimore Colts, who moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

"This has been a very, very tough road for my family and me," Modell said at the time of the move. "I leave my heart and part of my soul in Cleveland. But frankly, it came down to a simple proposition: I had no choice."

Ironically, the cost of the move to Baltimore left him financially strapped and left him no choice but to put in motion the chain of events that enabled Bisciotti to assume majority ownership of the franchise.

Bisciotti has since poured millions into the team, financing construction of a lavish practice facility in Owings Mills, Md. As a tribute to Modell, Bisciotti insisted that a huge oil painting of Modell be hung above the fireplace at the entrance to the complex.

While he was criticized by fans in Cleveland, Art Modell was loved by many fans in Baltimore for bring professional football back to the city after the loss of the Baltimore Colts.

"It's a sad day for Baltimore. He was a great individual, a great man, a great person for the city, and he is going to be dearly missed," said Jerry Bass of Owings Mills.

Bass spoke to WBAL News at the Baltimore Sports and Novelty Company, an Owings Mills store that sells Ravens jerseys and other memorabilia.

Store owner Jeffrey Katzen credits Modell with reviving the the city's economy after the loss of the Colts, and for giving football fans a new team to support.

"Everybody should just reflect on a man they never knew, and say thank you."

Born June 23, 1925, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Modell dropped out of high school at age 15 and worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard cleaning out the hulls of ships to help out his financially strapped family after the death of his father.

He completed high school in night class, joined the Air Force in 1943, and then enrolled in a television school after World War II. He used that education to produce one of the first regular daytime television programs before moving into the advertising business in 1954.

A group of friends led by Modell purchased the Browns in 1961 for $4 million - a figure he called "totally excessive."

"You get few chances like this," he said at the time. "To take advantage of the opportunity, you must have money and friends with more."

Aside from his work with the Browns, Modell became a leader in the Cleveland community. He served on the board of directors of a number of large companies, including the Ohio Bell Telephone Co., the Higbee Co. and the 20th Century-Fox Film Corp.

Modell and his wife, Patricia, continued their charitable ways in Baltimore, donating millions of dollars to The Seed School of Maryland, a boarding school in Maryland for disadvantaged youths; Johns Hopkins Hospital; and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The couple also gave $3.5 million to the Lyric, which was renamed the Patricia & Art Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric.

Patricia, his wife of 42 years, passed away in 2011.

Modell was beloved in Baltimore, and hoped one day the people of Cleveland would remember him for what he accomplished in the city. Long after the move, Modell pointed out that Cleveland ultimately got the new stadium he coveted, and that the expansion version of the Browns could draw on the history he helped crate.

"I think that part of my legacy is I left the colors, the name and the records in Cleveland," Modell said. "The fans in Cleveland were loyal and supportive. They lived and died with me every Sunday for 35 years."

Former Ravens president David Modell issued this statement:

Sadly, I can confirm that my father died peacefully of natural causes at four this morning. My brother John Modell and I were with him when he finally rejoined the absolute love of his life, my mother Pat Modell, who passed away last October.

ÆPoppyÆ was a special man who was loved by his sons, his daughter-in-law Michel, and his six grandchildren. Moreover, he was adored by the entire Baltimore community for his kindness and generosity. And, he loved Baltimore. He made an important and indelible contribution to the lives of his children, grandchildren and his entire community. We will miss him.

Governor OÆMalley issued the following statement:

Baltimore and the State of Maryland mourn the loss today of former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell.

Respected by his players and beloved by his family and Baltimore football fans, Art brought the game and spirit of football back to Baltimore. He helped reinvigorate BaltimoreansÆ sense of pride in their team and their City. As we prepare for another exciting season of Ravens football and Purple Fridays, let us all take a moment to remember Art and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued this statement:

Today the people of Baltimore are saddened to learn about the death of former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell. The entire Modell family is in our thoughts and prayers.

Under his leadership, Art Modell brought championship football back to Baltimore. Mr Modell also came to Baltimore with a charitable spirit. The Modell's enriched the city with their philanthropy, and set and example for fellow business leaders.

Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti:

He was my friend, my mentor. We will miss him so much. How lucky are all of us to have had Art in Baltimore? How fortunate I am to have had him teach me about the NFL. His generosity, his love, his humor, his intelligence, his friendship û we were all blessed by this great man. We will strive to live up to his standard.

Ravens General Manager & Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome:

Art was a giant in our industry. He was my boss û but he wouldnÆt let me call him that û my mentor, and most importantly, my friend. He was the most caring, compassionate person IÆve ever known. The opportunities he gave me are historic, and I will be forever humble and grateful.

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh:

By a Providential twist of fate, we came to be friends of Art and Pat Modell and their wonderful family. Pat took my wife under her wing and made her feel like they had been friends forever. Art made me feel like I could accomplish anything. He was the most encouraging soul I ever came across. He uplifted everybody around him. I loved Art, and he loved my family, including my parents. He welcomed us to Baltimore with genuine warmth and grace.

Art continued to be a big part of this great organization. He spoke to our team every year, and he interacted with the players and coaches whenever he was here. This was a strong and good man. He was a winner in every way. And his humor à He always, in every situation, made us laugh. He is in GodÆs company, along with Pat, and Art is telling some good ones right now!

It is important to mention some things about Art:

Art Modell was a visionary who broke barriers to help make the NFL what it is today and to help move our society forward in important ways. It was ArtÆs vision that married the NFL and TV together like nothing else in the history of sports and entertainment. He saw it first and drove it home with the networks and the league. Art negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement in NFL history. On those two accomplishments alone, the NFL moved to the forefront of sport in America. Art also started Monday Night Football. How great it is that we are playing in the Monday Night Football opener this week? We should all salute him for that. Art was a frontrunner in breaking racial and gender barriers in sports. He was ahead of his time and pioneered change for the good. And, Art was a winner. There are a multitude of playoff teams and division champions, and he won the Lombardi Trophy right here with his beloved Ravens.

It is often said about those inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame: æCan you write the history of the league without him?Æ The answer with Art Modell is resounding. He was a great leader, but more importantly, he was truly a good man.

ART MODELL: CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

+Chairman of the NFL Television Committee for 31 years (1962-93); contracts he negotiated set the standard for professional leagues

+Only elected NFL President in NFL history (1967-69); also helped establish NFL Films and became first chairman of NFL Films

+Chairman of the OwnersÆ Labor Committee, which successfully negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement and recognized the playersÆ right to have a union

+Served on the Committee to merge the NFL and AFL and then agreed to move to the AFC

+Important participant (with Pete Rozelle and Roone Arledge) in establishing Monday Night Football and hosted first game; also helped establish second Thanksgiving Day game with Tex Schramm (and agreed to play in first one at Dallas)

+Has won two NFL Championships; his teams played in three more title games; plus, four AFC Championship games, eight other playoff teams, and five teams that had chance to make playoffs entering final game of season